Page 31 of The Singles Club

“No.”

“Do you want to get married one day? Have children?”

I pushed down the ache in my chest. “If I’m lucky enough to find the right person.”

She clapped her hands together. “I got it. When you do date again, it’s to find your life partner, but right now, you want to be at a certain place in your career first.”

“You’re half right.”

“You’re a romantic,” she said.

“If wanting to find my life partner makes me a romantic, then yes.”

She scrunched her brows together. “It’s not about career?”

“No.”

“You already have a woman in mind, but she’s not ready?”

I smiled. “No.”

She slapped her hands to her thighs in frustration. “Alright, I give up. Why aren’t you out there looking for your life partner now?”

“Oh no, you were supposed to guess, and you haven’t,” I teased. “How about we drop this for now and find a place to eat?”

“For now, but I’ll figure it out sooner or later.”

Vivian chose a quaint little restaurant on the corner. I remembered them having the best saltimbocca I’d ever tasted. After we were seated, the drinks delivered, and the food ordered, Vivian leaned forward. I knew what was coming—she wanted to figure out my lack of a love life.

“It’s been too long, and now you’re nervous about getting back into the dating scene. Am I right?”

“That’s part of it.”

“Are you… inexperienced?”

“With dating?”

“No, I mean with being…intimate.”

I coughed through my sip of brandy. “Ah, no. It may have been a while, but I’m not worried about that.”

“Then you have had sex in these last two years?”

I pulled at my sweater collar, wishing I had opted for something short-sleeved and breathable. “Pass.”

Her eyes widened. “You haven’t had sex in two years?”

A couple from the next table looked over, and the woman giggled, whispering something to her date.

More like three years.

“Could we please change the subject?” I whispered.

Her eyes narrowed, and her nails drummed along the table. “I’m going to help you.”

I swallowed. “With sex?”

She snorted out a laugh. “No. I’m going to help you find your life partner.”